How to pronounce pupil
Say it like PYOO-pul. Pupil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pupil. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PYOO
- pul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pupil pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- pulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pupil
American and British speakers say pupil in essentially the same way: /ˈpjupəl/ in the US and /ˈpjuːpəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: PYOO-pul.
What does pupil mean?
- a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
- the contractile aperture in the center of the iris of the eye; resembles a large black dot
- a young person attending school (up through senior high school)
Where does pupil come from?
From Middle English pupille, from Anglo-Norman pupille (“orphan”), from Latin pūpillus (“orphan, minor”), variant of pūpulus (“little boy”), from pūpus (“child, boy”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pupil
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pupil.
Questions about saying pupil
How do you pronounce pupil?
Say PYOO-pul. The American pronunciation is /ˈpjupəl/. In British English it is /ˈpjuːpəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pupil?
Pupil has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PYOO). Broken into parts: PYOO · pul.
Do Americans and Brits say pupil the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpjupəl/ and the British form is /ˈpjuːpəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.